Woodrow Wilson to Walter Williams
Title
Woodrow Wilson to Walter Williams
Creator
Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924
Identifier
WWP25015
Date
1917 April 27
Source
Library of Congress, Woodrow Wilson Papers
Publisher
Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum
Subject
Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924--Correspondence
Contributor
Morgan Willer
Language
English
Provenance
Document scan was taken from Library of Congress microfilm reel of the Wilson Papers. WWPL volunteers transcribed the text.
Text
My dear Dean Williams:
I have received your letter of April nineteenth relating to the “Made-in-Japan” banquet to be given at your University on May eighteenth during Journalism Week.
I regret that I shall not be able to be present on so interesting an occasion.
Just as the ancient Greeks held it to be a pledge of indissoluble friendship to eat salt together, so it would seem that to partake in the United States of a banquet made in Japan, which symbolically at least, would bring Americans and Japanese together around a common board, ought to add strength to the tie of friendship between the two nations which has become historic.
In this critical hour when the United States takes its place alongside of Japan and her allies in the battle for righteousness and civilization, increased significance is given to such a covenant of friendship as this common meal would seem to imply.
The exchange of greetings and other interchange of courtesies between men of different nations must of course promote mutual acquaintanceship. It is often nothing more than lack of acquaintance that leads to international misunderstanding.
In journalism, therefore, it is properly given by the diffusion among the nations of knowledge one of another to dispel suspicion and create confidence.
Trusting that your banquet may contribute to so desirable an end, I am.
Sincerely yours,
Woodrow Wilson
Prof. Walter Williams,
Dean of the School of Journalism,
University of Missouri
I have received your letter of April nineteenth relating to the “Made-in-Japan” banquet to be given at your University on May eighteenth during Journalism Week.
I regret that I shall not be able to be present on so interesting an occasion.
Just as the ancient Greeks held it to be a pledge of indissoluble friendship to eat salt together, so it would seem that to partake in the United States of a banquet made in Japan, which symbolically at least, would bring Americans and Japanese together around a common board, ought to add strength to the tie of friendship between the two nations which has become historic.
In this critical hour when the United States takes its place alongside of Japan and her allies in the battle for righteousness and civilization, increased significance is given to such a covenant of friendship as this common meal would seem to imply.
The exchange of greetings and other interchange of courtesies between men of different nations must of course promote mutual acquaintanceship. It is often nothing more than lack of acquaintance that leads to international misunderstanding.
In journalism, therefore, it is properly given by the diffusion among the nations of knowledge one of another to dispel suspicion and create confidence.
Trusting that your banquet may contribute to so desirable an end, I am.
Sincerely yours,
Woodrow Wilson
Prof. Walter Williams,
Dean of the School of Journalism,
University of Missouri
Original Format
Letter
To
Williams, Walter, 1864-1935
Files
Collection
Citation
Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924, “Woodrow Wilson to Walter Williams,” 1917 April 27, WWP25015, World War I Letters, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.